J.B. Mercer

Custody

Bobby rubbed the back of neck. His nerves were tight and on high alert. He couldn't shake the dreaded feeling from his center being. Even as he heard the high pitch of his daughter's laugh. The family was setting up barbecue and so the younger ones were outside playing.

"You okay Uncle Bobby...?" Dani walked up to him and asked. Dani was split image of her father and mother. Light caramel cocoa skin, a short bob of tight curls, and her dad gigantic smile that showed all of her teeth.

"Yeah, I'm good." He said sipping on his bud. JB was running around playing soccer with the twins. He flashes back to day she demanded to play the sport. Only there were no girl soccer teams. It took alot talking with her principle until he agreed to allow by the books for her to play with boys the only team available. He can see her being an all star already. As he watches Art scores them another goal putting his team in the lead. He thinks all three of them will be.

"I don't understand how y'all can watch them play such a rough sport and not worry." Dani says as she puts down the pitchers of ice. Her sister Lia not far behind with the salad.

Bobby huffed out a laugh standing back up to check the meat on the grill. "Just as I don't understand with a family of crooks and criminal history you want to be lawyer." He said to her. Although everyone had been proud to hear she had gotten into Yale of all places. She was leaving after summer was over with a full scholarship. Dani laughed and shimmied over next to her dad.  Jer wrapped his arm around her hugging her tightly. Something twisted in Bobby's chest. Jer was letting his eldest girl make her own way to a place Mercer's are not known. It wasn't goodbye....still it was heartbreaking. Bobby wonders what he would do if JB decided she wanted to leave the state for college when the time comes. He doesn't think he will act as well as Jer.  Bobby finished checking on the meat only to realize its done.

"Angel bring the pan around. Everything is done. " Angel claps his hand and runs inside the family house as they call it. As he comes out Sofi and Aurora are following with lemonade jug pitches and plates. Camille has the cups. Bobby smiles seeing how welcome Aurora was being with the family. Aurora was a small petite woman. She had a hour glass figure. He's always telling her he's likes the way her hips fit perfectly in his hands. She had the most gorgeous hazel eyes he had ever seen. When she really smiles they flicker green instead of gold. Her hair was a curvy strawberry blond. She had walked into the bar two years at first as a customer. She left with a job when it became too rowdy due to them being short staff. A year later Bobby asked her out. He had never dated a woman. Yeah he screwed around but he had never liked anyone enough to consider datig. Aurora shocked him more when she also admitted that it was her first date. From then on it was game over. Two months ago he had finally introduced her to the fam and Bobby felt complete. He knew for the first time in his thirty eight years he had meet his one. And even with the age difference of thirteen years Aurora told him the same.

He called out to the kids. JB and the twins rushing over to the table. The other players running directly over to his stand. He gave each of the boys a small tin to take home to their family.  The street might have been called Power Block but ever since the Mercer's fully moved back it was known as Mercer's land. And as always Mercer's took care of their own. The boys thanked him calling him Mister. Bobby knew that Kelly, Jack, and his mom must all be laughing in their graves at him. He was not a Mister, but he couldn't make the kids change so he gradually started conceding to the title.  He sat down and ate his meal with his family. They were celebrating not knowing the darkness that was coming their way.

The next day Bobby woke to a horrible pitch in his stomach. Aurora was sprawled out on the bed. Her skin glistening under the sunlight. However he could not feel the beauty of it. He stumbled around to JB's room. She was tucked into a ball her hair shadowing her gorgeous face with her pale freckles that normally glow most early morning. He would have to make an ice cream trip he knew that awful position only meant one thing. Since it was early he decided that he would let them sleep in while he did a store run. He slipped out of the house.